Newsletter
7 Secrets to Banishing Bad Breath
February 26th 2010
There’s no way to sugarcoat it – bad breath is embarrassing. Fortunately, with proper dental care and some helpful home rem
edies, bad breath can be conquered. Most often, the offender can be traced to a buildup of bad bacteria in the mouth, so good oral hygiene is essential. Other causes include foods, smoking, dry mouth, medications, gum disease, and sinus conditions.
Chronic bad breath, called halitosis, is often a sign of early-stage gum disease. If you brush and floss regularly and still can’t defeat bad breath, consult your dentist. After an examination, he or she can diagnose the root cause of bad breath and recommend the proper method of treatment. The following fresh-breath secrets may also improve your oral aroma:
Floss! – Food particles stuck between teeth emit a foul odor as they decay – need we say more?
Scrape – A tongue scraper will remove bacteria trapped beneath taste buds.
Rinse – Many commercial mouthrinses temporarily freshen breath, but rinsing with a baking soda or peroxide solution can help fight odor-causing bacteria.
Change Your Toothbrush – Avoid spreading bad bacteria by replacing your toothbrush every three months.
Wet Your Whistle – Sipping water throughout the day prevents dehydration and washes away vagrant food particles.
Beware of Beverages – Coffee, beer, wine, and whiskey top the list of liquid offenders.
Spice Things Up – Keep some fresh sprigs of parsley or mint leaves at your disposal as quick, natural breath fresheners. Cloves, cardamom, and fennel also have odor-fighting powers.
5 Tips for Tip-Top Teeth
February 15th 2010
Dental caries (cavities) is the most prevalent childhood disease, and 90% of adults have had a cavity. Gum disease is responsible for 70% of adult tooth loss. A few simple habits could help you reduce your risk for cavities and gum disease – and improve your potential for keeping natural teeth long into your golden years. Kids and adults alike can benefit from these 5 quick and easy oral health tips. Some you’ve known since kindergarten, while others may be news.
- Limit sodas & energy drinks – All you need to know…one 12-ounce can of soda pop has 10 teaspoons of sugar – TEN! In addition, the carbonated beverages are high in acid, so they cause tooth enamel erosion. Bad, bad, bad! Instead, drink water.
- Limit starches & sugars – Sugars are no friend of tooth enamel. But then, neither are cooked starches, like crackers, cookies, noodles, mild, and many other snacks. When you over-consume these fermentable carbohydrates, the bacteria in your mouth will thank you – and you’ll end up with a filling!
- Rinse and repeat – After eating a snack or drinking anything other than water, simply rinse your mouth with fresh H2O to wash away decay-causing sugars, starches, and food particles. These culprits will feed bacteria if left in your mouth for any length of time.
- Eat healthy snacks – Carrots, celery, apples, and other fresh, non-processed, crunchy snacks are great for your oral health. Also on the list are those that saliva can quickly rinse away, like yogurt. Surprisingly, cheeses are good for oral health, as well, because they increase the production of saliva, which rinses the mouth naturally.
- Brush after meals – In addition to rinsing after snacks and drinks, be sure to brush your teeth after meals. You can find small, disposable toothbrushes that are easy to carry in your purse or pocket. Some have a hard dot of toothpaste in the center, so they’ll freshen your breath, as well. Floss once a day and whenever you feel particles stuck between your teeth.
Popular Misconceptions about Dental Decay
February 3rd 2010
Myths often start with a grain of truth, and that’s the case for the dental misconceptions
most people have absorbed over the years. No matter how educated a person perceives they are concerning dental health, it’s possible a few false impressions have taken root. Such as…
- Cavities are a fact of life.
It’s common knowledge that there are very real, clinically-evidenced explanations for dental health issues, so why is it that many times you cross your fingers and hope luck is on your side when it’s time to take the kids to the dentist? Recent advancements in research have focused a lot of attention on early intervention methods. So with proper education, fluoride, increased access to dental care, and ongoing research, children in this day and age may not need to worry about cavity development. No four-leaf clovers necessary.
- Candy is always the culprit
Ok, ok, you’re aware that eating candy isn’t doing anything good for our teeth, but focusing too specifically on that one source of sugar just isn’t wise. Here’s why: fighting cavities is essentially about keeping the proper pH balance in your mouth. Maintaining this balance requires adequate saliva flow, a balanced, varied diet, and a daily oral hygiene regimen. Prolonged and frequent exposure to sugar can lower pH levels often enough to seriously impact your dental health, but it’s not just candy that’s to blame. Fruit and fruit juices, sodas, and cooked starches also create that acidic environment which leads to tooth decay.
- A cavity starts on the inside of your tooth
This one is several hundred years old, and probably doesn’t affect your concept of tooth decay today. But it’s interesting to think that in the 18th century people believed that “tooth worms” formed within a tooth and ate their way out to the surface. Now we know that dental decay starts from the outside and works its way in, not the other way around!
The Scoop on Tooth Sensitivity
January 25th 2010
Tooth sensitivity is one of the chief complaints dental offices receive. It results when gums recede and expose the tooth roots. Tubules in the tooth roots lead directly to the tooth’s nerve, allowing stimuli such as hot or cold to reach the nerve and cause the associated pain. Several factors contribute to gum recession, including:
Brushing Technique – Brushing aggressively or with a hard-bristled brush can wear down the tooth enamel and expose the sensitive layers of dentin. Improper brushing can also damage the gum tissue and expose tooth roots.
Cracked Teeth – Even small cracks in tooth enamel can fill with bacteria, irritate the pulp, and cause tooth sensitivity.
Teeth Grinding – Over time, teeth grinding can lead to enamel erosion and hairline fractures.
Gum Disease – The leading cause of gum recession and tooth loss, gum disease eats away gum tissue and leaves tooth roots vulnerable to outside stimuli.
Age – Tooth sensitivity is typically highest between ages 25 and 30.
Tips for Tougher Teeth
Changing your hygiene products and habits can have an enormous impact. Brush with a desensitizing toothpaste and always use a soft-bristled brush. Fluoride rinses can re-mineralize softened areas of tooth enamel and curb sensitivity. Daily flossing and regular dental cleanings will help prevent gum disease, and your dentist can recommend other measures, such as a nightguard for teeth grinding. You don’t have to suffer tooth sensitivity. See your dentist for a thorough diagnosis and long-term solution.
Manly and Macho are No Longer Synonymous
January 14th 2010
The Academy of General Dentistry reports that for many years, men have been “less likely to visit the dentist” than women because they don’t see a need, they feel afraid or embarrassed, or they simply won’t make time. This has been the status quo for a while now, but times are changing. These days, dentists are treating more and more men with – oddly enough – cosmetic procedures, like teeth whitening, veneers, and composite bonding.Why would men want a nicer smile? It’s all about the money, baby.
One private company’s study reveals that after teeth whitening, people are more likely to land a job – and a at a higher rate of pay. Another poll by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry tells us that people with an attractive smile are considered more friendly, intelligent, and successful than others. In this economy, you can’t afford not to invest in your image, whether you’re a man or a woman.
So if you’d like a brighter, straighter, more attractive smile, talk with your dentist about cosmetic dentistry. Today’s procedures begin at moderate prices, and for more complex smile makeovers, financing is available.